It is evident that Guru Nanak possessed a distinct sense of his prophethood and realized that his mission in life was God-ordained. During his long tours, he visited numerous places of Hindu and Muslim worship. He saw the futility of mere rituals and blind-faith. At Hardwar (Northern India), when he found people throwing Ganges water towards the sun in the east as a compulsive offering for their ancestors in heaven, he began, as a measure of correction, throwing water towards the west, in the direction of his fields in the Punjab. When ridiculed by his absurd gesture, Guru Nanak replied, “If Ganges water will reach your ancestors in heaven, why should the water I throw up not reach my fields in the Punjab, which are less distant?”

Born in 1469 in Talwandi, west of Lahore (Pakistan), Guru Nanak spent twenty five years of his life preaching from place to place. Despite the hardships of travel of those times, he performed five long tours all over the country and even travelled outside to Sri Lanka, Baghdad and Mecca. His hymns became the sole guide and the scriptures for his followers and were sung by travelers of all castes.

Finally, on the completion of his tours, Guru Nanak settled as a peasant farmer in Kartarpur, in a village of Punjab (India). He believed that a house-holder could also find — The Ultimate, through gracious living and social activities towards community-development. Guru Nanak’s followers throughout were known as Nanak-panthies or Sikhs. In the morning, Japji was sung in large gatherings, and in the evening Sodar and Aarti were recited. During his lifetime, he was accepted as a new religious prophet and the central idea of his preachings was: Brotherhood and Peace.

Till today, the name of Guru Nanak Devji is remembered for his religious principles, which directed his disciples to live a normal life: supporting both vocation and the spiritual aspect.

HYMN

Sumiran kar ley mere manna,
Bête jaya umar Hari naam bina.

O, mind (self), take the name of Hari (The Lord) because your life is passing by.